Somerset West and Taunton

Somerset West and Taunton's population grew in the decade to 2011. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure and health.

The population passed 140,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Somerset West and Taunton increased by 5.5%, from about 137,000 to 145,000.

The addition of almost 7,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Somerset West and Taunton was home to, on average, 0.87 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Relationships in Somerset West and Taunton

The proportion of married people fell in Somerset West and Taunton, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of married people, as the regional average fell from 53% to 49%.

During this period, Somerset West and Taunton went from having the 22nd-highest to the 11th-lowest percentage of married people out of 309 English local authority areas.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 and over in Somerset West and Taunton said they were married, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 25% to 28%.

The proportion of married people was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that that said they were married across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in work hours

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased in Somerset West and Taunton, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week, as the regional average grew from 2.1% to 3.2%.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Somerset West and Taunton said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage that worked over 49 hours in a week decreased from 13% to 11%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) that that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton that rented privately increased from 10% to 16% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton households that owner their home decreased from 71% to 67%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Somerset West and Taunton increased by 5.5 percentage points

Percentage of households in Somerset West and Taunton, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.7% to 5.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Somerset West and Taunton residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Somerset West and Taunton decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Somerset West and Taunton, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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